Middlesbrough

Family life changed for many in Middlesbrough in the decade to 2011. Data from the census show there were changes in ethnicity, health and housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 140,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Middlesbrough increased by 2.6%, from just under 135,000 to 138,000.

The addition of almost 3,600 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Middlesbrough was home to, on average, 18 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it the North East's most densely-populated unitary authority.

Population density was higher than the average across the North East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the North East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

More single people in Middlesbrough

This area saw the North East's second-largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

Across the region, only Newcastle upon Tyne saw a greater rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership (from 38% to 47%).

Every local authority area across the North East saw a rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership, as the regional average grew from 29% to 34%.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (39%) people aged 16 and over in Middlesbrough said they were single, compared with 33% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 47% to 42%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were single across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Middlesbrough

The number of people in Middlesbrough from the White ethnic groups increased from about 130,000 in 2001 to just over 120,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 94% to 88% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the North East (from 98% to 95%), but at a similar rate to the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Middlesbrough from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 6,400 in 2001 to about 11,000 in 2011 (from 4.8% to 7.8%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 1,300 to just under 2,400 (from 0.9% to 1.7%).

Just over 1,700 people (0.4%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just under 480 in 2001 (1.3%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Middlesbrough decreased by 5.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and Middlesbrough by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Middlesbrough residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 12% to 7.6% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (78%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 65% in 2001. The percentage of Middlesbrough residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the North East. As a result, Middlesbrough became more healthy than the national average 5.5% in England described their health as good in 2011).

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Middlesbrough decreased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Middlesbrough, the North East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Middlesbrough

The number of people in Middlesbrough that described themselves as Muslim increased from about 5,700 in 2001 to just under 9,800 in 2011. This represents a change from 4.2% to 7.1% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the North East (from 1.1% to 1.8%) and the average across England (from 3.2% to 5.2%).

The number of people in Middlesbrough that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 100,000 in 2001 to just under 88,000 in 2011 (from 77% to 63%). The number of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from about 14,000 to about 31,000 (from 10% to 22%).

Just over 8,500 people (8.0%) did not state their religion, down from about 11,000 in 2001 (6.2%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Muslim in Middlesbrough increased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and Middlesbrough by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

This area saw the North East's largest rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

Across the region, South Tyneside saw the next largest increase in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents (from 12% in 2001 to 12% in 2011).

During this period, Middlesbrough overtook four local authority areas, including County Durham and Gateshead, to become the North East local authority area with the third-highest percentage of households with only adult children living with their parents.

In 2011, just over one in nine (11%) households in Middlesbrough had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 10% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 33% to 31%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the North East

Percentage of households that where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

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